Pregnant or period? Confused!!

Hey!
I have been type 1 for around 5 years and using an insulin pump for almost 3years.

Just wondering if anyone had uncontrollable high sugar levels as an early sign of pregnancy?

When I was pregnant before my levels were really high and I required a lot more insulin but I dont remember it being too early on, unfortunately I miscarried at 7weeks. Since the miscarriage I had really high levels around a week before every period which was very unusual and as I say only happened after the miscarriage. However with my last period there was nothing, no pain, no crazy levels, I just came on. I thought my body was finally back to normal (after 6months) but I'm due on next week and my levels are crazy high again and I'm needing a lot more insulin again even though I'm eating the same things.

I'm wondering if it's not back to normal and this is just a sign that my periods due or if I might be pregnant. Any ideas or opinions are very welcome!!

Staff Member

This isn’t an area I have ANY experience of, but my post with bump your thread back up to the top of the recent posts list, so more people will see it and hopefully someone with experience will have an answer.

Some ladies do have highs in very early pregnancy. Those very early highs then change to the usual pregnancy lows at very roughly 8 weeks. So, yes, it's possible you might be pregnant. Only a test will tell you for sure.

Sorry to hear you miscarried. Can I ask how long ago that was? The other possible explanation for your highs is that your hormones are still a little up and down after the miscarriage. That's not uncommon, and some ladies do find it upsets things for a few months.

So my advice is to act like you could be pregnant - avoid alcohol, keep strict control, etc. - and test when you can. Are you taking the special folic acid?

Some ladies do have highs in very early pregnancy. Those very early highs then change to the usual pregnancy lows at very roughly 8 weeks. So, yes, it's possible you might be pregnant. Only a test will tell you for sure.

Sorry to hear you miscarried. Can I ask how long ago that was? The other possible explanation for your highs is that your hormones are still a little up and down after the miscarriage. That's not uncommon, and some ladies do find it upsets things for a few months.

So my advice is to act like you could be pregnant - avoid alcohol, keep strict control, etc. - and test when you can. Are you taking the special folic acid?

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Hi,

I miscarried in early May this year. Before the miscarriage I never had any problems with my periods no highs, since I have each month but last month my period was fine, no highs or anything so I thought maybe my body has kind of reset itself and gone back to normal but this month it's back and I am really struggling to control my levels. Earlier today I was 14, I didn't give any insulin as had previously given a large does to get to 14 from 17 (gave around 8 units so should have been much lower than 14!) and half an hour later it had gone up to 16, I hadn't eaten, just been sat at my desk. Don't know what else to do, I've put my basal rate up and still nothing.

May is a while ago, but I suppose it's still possible that your hormones are settling, or have been thrown out of synch in some way. Would it be worth a chat with your GP just so any hormone issues can be ruled out?

With your pump, I'm presuming you've done all the normal things like change your insulin, check your pump sites and check your body area in case there are absorption issues? Have you got any advice from your DSN? If you're having persistent highs and struggling to get your blood sugar down, then that might be something they can help with. Perhaps there's something else happening that's unrelated to your hormones eg maybe your basal or ratios need tweaking and it's just coincidently happening now?

I think if it was me, I'd speak to the DSN and get their input in case they've come across this before, and go ahead and do a pregnancy test when you can. That way you're covering all angles.

I hope you get it sorted soon. Whatever is the cause, it's frustrating when you're running high and can't get your BS under control.

Staff Member

I wouldn't automatically assume high BG levels meaning you are pregnant, I would first of all check your infusion set on your pump and do a change to rule this out first and use fresh insulin just in case your insulin has gone off. Also you will need to look at increasing your correction dose - I find when I'm running at 12+ then I need an extra kick of insulin to bring my levels back into touch. High Bg levels could indicate illness/infection also, at this time of year bugs are plentiful. Hormones can cause insulin resistance so around the time you are due on then your Bg levels will increase, but I would look at these other points first before checking to see if your pregnant.

I have done all the changes of the infusion set, site and cartridge and also used a cartridge from a new pack just incase. I've been using much more than I would normally but the lowest I've managed to get today is 13 :/ I've increased my basal rate aswell, spoken to my DSN and have been told I'm doing everything they would recommend so really at a lose now. They said the same as you guys really, that it could be because of a period coming although I'm not due on for another 8days or it could be pregnancy. Could see the GP but reckon I will get similar answers so guess I will have to wait it out till next week and see if I come on or not!

I have done all the changes of the infusion set, site and cartridge and also used a cartridge from a new pack just incase. I've been using much more than I would normally but the lowest I've managed to get today is 13 :/ I've increased my basal rate aswell, spoken to my DSN and have been told I'm doing everything they would recommend so really at a lose now. They said the same as you guys really, that it could be because of a period coming although I'm not due on for another 8days or it could be pregnancy. Could see the GP but reckon I will get similar answers so guess I will have to wait it out till next week and see if I come on or not!

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Hi, it can take several months for your body to get back to "normal".
As you know lots of things can upset the balance, a particularly heavy period, stress, pregnancy and sickness can all cause you to go really high or really low...
There really is no rhyme or reason and can be very difficult to predict.
I would not dwell on the "why's" right now, just try to tackle the Bgl, this will help lower the stress at least a little which may also help the bgl, if the period comes make a note of how heavy and how long compared to the last one, if it is pregnancy then at least you can know and are on top of it... but the most important thing is to get Bgl under control for your health and the potential baby... try lowering carbs and raising veggie intake, make a few changes to diet, go to the doctor to let them know or your dn to find out what they advise.
It may be your hormones are all over the place, they may be able to give you something to help if you are not pregnant and if you are they can refer you to a specialist, but I would say it is still really early yet... however if your hormones are being effected and causing raised Bgl then a test should be able to pick that up... the digital one is always a good one to use and can pick up early pregnancy.
I hope you get the result you are after... sending a hug, I know what it is like to lose a baby, I also know how hard it is to recover mentally and the effects that has on you and your body.

I have done all the changes of the infusion set, site and cartridge and also used a cartridge from a new pack just incase. I've been using much more than I would normally but the lowest I've managed to get today is 13 :/ I've increased my basal rate aswell, spoken to my DSN and have been told I'm doing everything they would recommend so really at a lose now. They said the same as you guys really, that it could be because of a period coming although I'm not due on for another 8days or it could be pregnancy. Could see the GP but reckon I will get similar answers so guess I will have to wait it out till next week and see if I come on or not!

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The waiting is so so hard. I just found out I'm pregnant with my second last night. I'm only at 4 weeks so very very early, but my first clue was that all my basal rates started to increase in the last week, especially on Monday and yesterday. My period wasn't due until this Saturday but last night I took a digital test (so I wouldn't have to guess if I could see the lines) and surprise! "Pregnant 1-2 weeks". I experienced a rapid increase in basal rates last time around until around 8-10 weeks so it's definitely possible, but you'll need to wait a few more days before you'll have any chance of getting a positive test if you are.

Sometimes my rates just all of a sudden seem to change for no discernible reason so like others said, it could be happening for a wide range of reasons. I'll also have months where I get the typical PMS symptoms and then one month I feel totally normal. So hard to tell with the human body.

The waiting is so so hard. I just found out I'm pregnant with my second last night. I'm only at 4 weeks so very very early, but my first clue was that all my basal rates started to increase in the last week, especially on Monday and yesterday. My period wasn't due until this Saturday but last night I took a digital test (so I wouldn't have to guess if I could see the lines) and surprise! "Pregnant 1-2 weeks". I experienced a rapid increase in basal rates last time around until around 8-10 weeks so it's definitely possible, but you'll need to wait a few more days before you'll have any chance of getting a positive test if you are.

Sometimes my rates just all of a sudden seem to change for no discernible reason so like others said, it could be happening for a wide range of reasons. I'll also have months where I get the typical PMS symptoms and then one month I feel totally normal. So hard to tell with the human body.

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Congratulations!

Yes the human body is a mysterious thing! So from around 3am my levels suddenly dropped and I had a hypo then stayed around 5 through the night. The rose more than normal when eating so required more insulin that usual for my standard breakfast and sat around 12 but then suddenly dropped again this evening. Going to bed with my levels around 9 to try and avoid a repeat of last night! No idea what's going on with me right now but I will keep posting updates.

Yes the human body is a mysterious thing! So from around 3am my levels suddenly dropped and I had a hypo then stayed around 5 through the night. The rose more than normal when eating so required more insulin that usual for my standard breakfast and sat around 12 but then suddenly dropped again this evening. Going to bed with my levels around 9 to try and avoid a repeat of last night! No idea what's going on with me right now but I will keep posting updates.

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I buy the clearblue digital, double pack.
I always do one early (about a week before I am due) even if it comes back negative I would wait a week and then redo. I can't rate that test highly enough TBH, it is the only one that has given me the correct answer each time... however I will note that it all depends on conception date! The nhs go by last missed period (lmp) but it could be ANY time between then and when you discover... minus a week as you are pregnant for a week before it implants. I used an app to chart my cycle and they were 4 days out for my fertile time... this was confirmed by the dating sonogram! So don't always trust what they say as you are unique.
I would take a test now just to put the mind at ease... the clearblue do pick it up earlier than the others (but then you get what you pay for.).

I buy the clearblue digital, double pack.
I always do one early (about a week before I am due) even if it comes back negative I would wait a week and then redo. I can't rate that test highly enough TBH, it is the only one that has given me the correct answer each time... however I will note that it all depends on conception date! The nhs go by last missed period (lmp) but it could be ANY time between then and when you discover... minus a week as you are pregnant for a week before it implants. I used an app to chart my cycle and they were 4 days out for my fertile time... this was confirmed by the dating sonogram! So don't always trust what they say as you are unique.
I would take a test now just to put the mind at ease... the clearblue do pick it up earlier than the others (but then you get what you pay for.).

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I was going to say something similar, but I thought that maybe it was just me who was different so I kept quiet. It's a very long time since I was pregnant but I knew at 2 days that I was definitely pregnant with my 2nd child, I had hormonal changes which affected me right away. It was actually my 3rd pregnancy as like the OP I too had had a miscarriage 6 months previously. I did a test at the 'proper time' via my surgery and it came back negative. I bought one myself that day and it showed positive and I waited another couple of weeks to do another one at the surgery. I almost gave my opinion above that if your body is reacting to the hormonal changes then a test may well prove positive ahead of schedule but though 'better' of it as it's only my opinion.

As you say we are all unique and our bodies don't always know the rules.

I was going to say something similar, but I thought that maybe it was just me who was different so I kept quiet. It's a very long time since I was pregnant but I knew at 2 days that I was definitely pregnant with my 2nd child, I had hormonal changes which affected me right away. It was actually my 3rd pregnancy as like the OP I too had had a miscarriage 6 months previously. I did a test at the 'proper time' via my surgery and it came back negative. I bought one myself that day and it showed positive and I waited another couple of weeks to do another one at the surgery. I almost gave my opinion above that if your body is reacting to the hormonal changes then a test may well prove positive ahead of schedule but though 'better' of it as it's only my opinion.

As you say we are all unique and our bodies don't always know the rules.

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Opinion can be based on common sense, if the hormones are great enough to effect you then there are enough to be detected by the tests... the cheaper ones always seem to trick you... I found when desperately hoping to be pregnant, you would somehow be able to see a line that probably didn't exist, it really is up to your imagination at that stage... so I really loved the clearblue digital for removing that and making it clear, as well as being sensitive enough to detect from the a week before period is due in some cases... obviously knowing each woman's cycle is different, but then some woman wouldn't know they were pregnant until they are at least 6 weeks (when hormones start to effect them) and some know straight away before missed period... however that comes with experience and knowing your body too!

Opinion can be based on common sense, if the hormones are great enough to effect you then there are enough to be detected by the tests... the cheaper ones always seem to trick you... I found when desperately hoping to be pregnant, you would somehow be able to see a line that probably didn't exist, it really is up to your imagination at that stage... so I really loved the clearblue digital for removing that and making it clear, as well as being sensitive enough to detect from the a week before period is due in some cases... obviously knowing each woman's cycle is different, but then some woman wouldn't know they were pregnant until they are at least 6 weeks (when hormones start to effect them) and some know straight away before missed period... however that comes with experience and knowing your body too!

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When I was pregnant before I didn't show positive on a test until I was 11 days late, but then that pregnancy ended in miscarriage so I've always thought to myself that I didn't show till that late because it was never going to stay so the hormones weren't strong enough or something - I know medically this is probably not that case! I am due on the 8th and I've taken a test today which was negative. Will see if I come on and if not then test again next week. I've got pretty sore breasts but that could be because I'm due on - although I don't normally. I'm also weeing every five minutes but then my levels kick spiking however they don't stay high anymore but I do require double the insulin that I normally do, keep having random drops as well. As said before the human body is a mystery!

On a side note I passed out around 2 months ago - not diabetes related - and as a result had a 5 day ecg which I found out today has showed that I have a heart murmur and my lower ventricles are overworking so I have a very fast heart rate which is causing a lot of dizziness and palpitations so been referred to a cardiologist, should hopefully get an appointment in the next two to three weeks. There's a lot of stress and strain on my body at the moment so maybe that's why I've been feeling the way I have? Only time will tell!

When I was pregnant before I didn't show positive on a test until I was 11 days late, but then that pregnancy ended in miscarriage so I've always thought to myself that I didn't show till that late because it was never going to stay so the hormones weren't strong enough or something - I know medically this is probably not that case! I am due on the 8th and I've taken a test today which was negative. Will see if I come on and if not then test again next week. I've got pretty sore breasts but that could be because I'm due on - although I don't normally. I'm also weeing every five minutes but then my levels kick spiking however they don't stay high anymore but I do require double the insulin that I normally do, keep having random drops as well. As said before the human body is a mystery!

On a side note I passed out around 2 months ago - not diabetes related - and as a result had a 5 day ecg which I found out today has showed that I have a heart murmur and my lower ventricles are overworking so I have a very fast heart rate which is causing a lot of dizziness and palpitations so been referred to a cardiologist, should hopefully get an appointment in the next two to three weeks. There's a lot of stress and strain on my body at the moment so maybe that's why I've been feeling the way I have? Only time will tell!

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With each of my miscarriages I would have only a faint positive after several negatives and would start bleeding between 6 and 8 weeks. When I found out with my son it was a definite positive and I remember calling the midwife and saying that and that I didn't think I would miscarry "this time"!, she floored me by saying that wasn't a factor and that I could still miscarry. I didn't... but had a difficult pregnancy and was the first time I needed insulin... constantly putting the dose up and never quite keeping up with bgl.
You are going through so much right now and your future is really busy especially if you are needing to go through cardiology... it is probably best to wait until everything settles and you have the heart condition under control. I would also ask the cardiologist about the effects pregnancy would have on you (as pregnancy squeezes the heart and puts a lot of pressure onto it) and also what effects this will have on a baby... such as medication.
Having all of the answers and a plan in place may be very beneficial... it may be that you would need a planned c-section to bypass the strain labour would have on your heart... they may also put you on a medication that is safe to take during pregnancy as well as extra ones to stop blood clots (normally not given from the beginning in a low risk pregnancy).
You would probably get extra scans and appointments if and when you do find out you are pregnant as you would be deemed high risk... but that isn't a bad thing (even I am deemed high risk).
I think your symptoms are not pregnancy related (sorry) because it is the hcg hormones which cause them and it is this hormone that is picked up in the test... it is more likely to be due to your heart and the stressful situation you are in (which could also be effecting your Bgl.)
I am really sorry you are going through this, I do think this is something you need to be discussing with your doctor (specialist) who can give better and more accurate advice with your condition in mind!